Circuit and method for improved offset adjustment of differential amplifier within data receiving apparatus

Abstract

A data receiving apparatus is provided to receive command data encoded by using a combination of high-level periods during which there is radio wave and low-level periods during which there is no radio wave. The data receiving apparatus is provided with a receiving circuit including a differential amplifier circuit receiving the command data through an antenna, and a demodulator outputting a reproduced signal corresponding to the command data in response to an output of the differential amplifier; and an offset adjustment switch circuit judging a logic level of the reproduced signal in the low level periods of the command data while the receiving circuit receives the command data, and generates offset switch signals based on the logic level of the reproduced signal in the low level periods. The differential amplifier circuit includes an offset control section adjusting an offset value of the differential amplifier circuit in response to the offset switch signals.

1. A data receiving apparatus for receiving command data encoded by using a combination of high-level periods during which there is radio wave and low-level periods during which there is no radio wave, said data receiving apparatus comprising:
 a receiving circuit including a differential amplifier circuit receiving said command data through an antenna, and a demodulator outputting a reproduced signal corresponding to said command data in response to an output of said differential amplifier; and 
 an offset adjustment switch circuit judging a logic level of said reproduced signal in said low level periods of said command data using a plurality of logic circuits while said receiving circuit receives said command data, and generates offset switch signals based on said logic level of said reproduced signal in said low level periods, 
 wherein said differential amplifier circuit includes an offset control section adjusting an offset value of said differential amplifier circuit in response to said offset switch signals, 
 wherein said plurality of logic circuits includes:
 a timing signal generator that generates a plurality of timing signals, wherein each of said plurality of timing signals is generated at a different time; 
 a plurality of data latches that each latch said reproduced signal in response to one of said plurality of timing signals; 
 an offset determination unit that generates an offset determination signal in response to output signals received from said plurality of data latches; and 
 an offset switch signal control circuit that receives said offset determination signal to generate said offset switch signals. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The data receiving apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said command data are encoded so that each symbol of said command data includes at least one of said low level periods, and wherein said offset adjustment switch circuit judges said logic level of said reproduced signal multiple times with said offset value kept constant, so that said logic level of said reproduced signal is judged in at least one of said low-level periods during reception of said command data. 
     
     
       3. The data receiving apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said offset value of said differential amplifier circuit is set so that said logic level of said reproduced signal is a high level for said low-level periods before adjustment of said offset value,
 wherein said offset adjustment switch circuit generates said offset switch signals so that said offset value is switched step by step, 
 wherein said offset adjustment switch circuit identifies a step at which said logic level of said reproduced signal in said low-level periods is switched from the high level to a low level, and 
 wherein said offset adjustment switch circuit determines desired states of said offset switch signals for an actual operation based on a result of the identification. 
 
     
     
       4. The data receiving apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an intermittent operation control circuit supplying an intermittent operation signal to said receiving circuit, 
 wherein said command data are transmitted repeatedly in a command data transmission period, 
 wherein said intermittent operation control circuit activates said intermittent operation signal with a cycle period shorter than said command data transmission period, and 
 wherein said receiving circuit is started up in response to activation of said intermittent operation signal. 
 
     
     
       5. The data receiving apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein said intermittent operation signal is also supplied to said offset adjustment switch circuit, and wherein said offset adjustment switch circuit is activated in response to said activation of said intermittent operation signal. 
     
     
       6. The data receiving apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a reception allowance signal generation circuit activating a reception allowance signal after said offset value is set to a value determined for an actual operation; 
 an interruption generation section receiving said reception allowance signal and said reproduced signal; and 
 a microcomputer executing a command incorporated in said reproduced signal, 
 wherein said interruption generation section activates an interruption signal fed to said microcomputer when said reception allowance signal is activated and said reproduced signal is set to the high level, and 
 wherein said microcomputer is started up in response to activation of said interruption signal. 
 
     
     
       7. The data receiving apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said antenna includes an LC resonance antenna including a coil and capacitor, wherein two inputs of said differential amplifier circuit are connected to terminals of said LC resonance antenna, respectively. 
     
     
       8. The data receiving apparatus according to  claim 7 , further comprising a damping resistor circuit adjusting a damping ratio of said antenna, and wherein said damping ratio set during adjustment of said offset value is larger than said damping ratio set in an actual operation. 
     
     
       9. A data communication system comprising:
 a data transmitting apparatus transmitting command data encoded by using a combination of high-level periods during which there is radio wave and low-level periods during which there is no radio wave; and 
 a data receiving apparatus comprising:
 a receiving circuit including a differential amplifier circuit receiving said command data through an antenna, and a demodulator outputting a reproduced signal corresponding to said command data in response to an output of said differential amplifier; and 
 an offset adjustment switch circuit judging a logic level of said reproduced signal in said low level periods of said command data using a plurality of logic circuits while said receiving circuit receives said command data, and generates offset switch signals based on said logic level of said reproduced signal in said low level periods, 
 wherein said differential amplifier circuit includes an offset control section adjusting an offset value of said differential amplifier circuit in response to said offset switch signals, 
 wherein said plurality of logic circuits includes:
 a timing signal generator that generates a plurality of timing signals, wherein each of said plurality of timing signals is generated at a different time; 
 a plurality of data latches that each latch said reproduced signal in response to one of said plurality of timing signals; 
 an offset determination unit that generates an offset determination signal in response to output signals received from said plurality of data latches; and 
 an offset switch signal control circuit that receives said offset determination signal to generate said offset switch signals. 
 
 
 
     
     
       10. The data communication system according to  claim 9 , wherein said data receiving apparatus is provided in a tire wheel of a vehicle, and wherein said data transmitting apparatus is provided on said vehicle outside said tire wheel. 
     
     
       11. An offset adjustment method comprising:
 receiving command data through an antenna by a receiving circuit, said command data being encoded by using a combination of high-level periods during which there is radio wave and low-level periods during which there is no radio wave; 
 reproducing said received command data by said receiving circuit to output a reproduced signal; and 
 adjusting an offset value of a differential amplifier circuit within said receiving circuit, wherein said adjusting includes:
 judging a logic level of said reproduced signal in said low level periods of said command data using a plurality of logic circuits while said receiving circuit receives said command data; and 
 determining said offset value of said differential amplifier circuit based on a result of said judging, 
 wherein said plurality of logic circuits includes:
 a timing signal generator that generates a plurality of timing signals, wherein each of said plurality of timing signals is generated at a different time; 
 a plurality of data latches that each latch said reproduced signal in response to one of said plurality of timing signals; 
 an offset determination unit that generates an offset determination signal in response to output signals received from said plurality of data latches; and 
 an offset switch signal control circuit that receives said offset determination signal to generate a plurality of offset switch signals, and 
 
 wherein said offset value of said differential amplifier circuit is determined in response to said plurality of offset switch signals. 
 
 
     
     
       12. The offset adjustment method according to  claim 11 , wherein said receiving circuit includes:
 a differential amplifier circuit connected to said antenna; and 
 an offset control circuit configured to adjust said offset value of said differential amplifier circuit, 
 wherein said adjusting said offset value includes adjusting a state of said offset control circuit. 
 
     
     
       13. The offset adjustment method according to  claim 11 , wherein said command data are encoded so that each symbol of said command data includes at least one of said low level periods, and wherein said judging of said logic level of said reproduced signal includes judging said logic level of said reproduced signal multiple times with said offset value kept constant, so that said logic level of said reproduced signal is judged in at least one of said low-level periods during reception of said command data. 
     
     
       14. The offset adjustment method according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 setting said offset value of said differential amplifier circuit before adjustment of said offset value, so that said logic level of said reproduced signal is a high level for said low-level periods, 
 wherein said judging of said logic level of said reproduced signal further includes:
 switching said offset value; and 
 judging said logic level of said reproduced signal in said low-level periods every when said offset value is switched, and 
 
 wherein said determining said offset value of said differential amplifier circuit includes:
 identifying said offset value at which said logic level of said reproduced signal in said low-level periods is switched from the high level to a low level, and 
 determining said offset value for an actual operation based on said identified offset value. 
 
 
     
     
       15. The offset adjustment method according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 repeatedly transmitting said command data in a command data transmission period; 
 generating an intermittent operation signal; and 
 starting up said receiving circuit in response to activation of said intermittent operation signal, 
 wherein said intermittent operation signal is activated with a cycle period shorter than said command data transmission period. 
 
     
     
       16. The offset adjustment method according to  claim 15 , wherein said offset value of said differential amplifier circuit is adjusted every when said intermittent operation signal is activated. 
     
     
       17. The offset adjustment method according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 activating a reception allowance signal after said offset value of said differential amplifier circuit is adjusted; and 
 executing a command incorporated within said command data in response to said reproduced signal after a time when said reception allowance signal is activated with said reproduced signal set to the high level. 
 
     
     
       18. The offset adjustment method according to  claim 11 , wherein, in adjusting said offset value of said differential amplifier circuit, a damping ratio of said antenna is set to a value larger than that of said damping ratio for an actual operation. 
     
     
       19. The offset adjustment method according to  claim 18 , further comprising:
 setting said damping ratio to a value of said damping ratio for said actual operation, after adjusting said offset value of said differential amplifier circuit.